Pete Hegseth says the Pentagon dismantled 80 ‘propaganda cells’ operating under new names at 30 universities. WASHINGTON, Oct 23 (Reuters) - The US Defense Department has designated China's Confucius Institutes as a threat to US national security, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said on Friday. Pete Hegseth says 80 ‘propaganda cells’ at 30 universities reappeared under new names and have been dismantled.